The Goldbergs' "Yippee Ki Yay Melon Farmer" is a Christmas episode that pays tribute to Die Hard. Die Hard is based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp, which is a follow-up to his previous book The Detective. The latter was turned into a 1968 film starring Frank Sinatra, who contractually had to be offered Die Hard first; the retired actor soon passed, however. A rumor suggested Die Hard is actually a reworked version of an unmade sequel to Commando - which would have featured Arnold Schwarzenegger's character fighting mercenaries in a building - but this has since been debunked.
That said, Schwarzenegger was offered the movie as was everyone from Richard Gere to Burt Reynolds before Bruce Willis signed on. Die Hard became a huge success in 1988 and made Willis an instant movie star. It also spawned a long-running franchise, with the actor returning for four sequels and it has also received various video games and comic spinoffs. Len Wiseman was attached to a direct prequel/sequel dubbed McClane, but progress on that movie has gone quiet.
Sitcom The Goldbergs debuted in 2013 and was created by Adam F. Goldberg. The series follows the antics of the title clan and takes place in the 1980s, and its become well-known for its many nods to pop culture from that era. It's nabbed some impressive cameos too, including Rick Moranis loaning his voice to Spaceballs' Dark Helmet and season 6 saw Robert Englund briefly reprise A Nightmare On Elm Street's Freddy. This season also featured the episode "Yippie Ki Yay Melon Farmers," which features a tribute to Die Hard.
The title "Yippie Ki Yay Melon Farmers" itself references TV edits of Die Hard that remove the swear word from John McClane's favorite catchphrase. This Goldbergs episode mostly focuses on Barry who is initially excited to celebrate Christmas with girlfriend Lainey - only to learn she and her father don't celebrate it as her mother left them on the holiday. Barry decides to pretend to his mother they're celebrating Christmas regardless and Beverly to go to comically extravagant lengths to put together a great Hannnukah.
That eventually ends in disaster for both parties, leading to lessons learned and the two families coming together to celebrate. The Goldbergs' Die Hard subplot sees Adam - who has become obsessed with the movie - teaming up with Uncle Marvin (Dan Fogler) to make a charming home movie version. The pair run different through concepts such as Fly Hard, which is Die Hard In An Airport - so Die Hard 2, basically - and Speed Hard, which is Die Hard On A Bus, a nod to 1994's Speed. They finally settle on Die Hard In A Tree House, which results in a charming fake trailer which gives Fogler a chance to show off his Bruce Willis impression.